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The road to Kentucky Derby 2023 resumes this weekend with three points qualifiers, including two that offer 100 points to the winners.
Instant Coffee is the morning-line favorite for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) features four runners from the John Battaglia Memorial. On Sunday, Sunland Park offers its lone stop on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Three Kentucky Oaks preps also are on tap, and Art Collector returns in the New Orleans Classic (G2).
Here is a look at the likely fields.
Kentucky Derby preps
Saturday
Louisiana Derby (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 3/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby points
Instant Coffee is the morning-line favorite at 2-1, and the Lecomte (G3) winner drew the No. 2 post for trainer Brad Cox. The second choice, at 5-1, is Kenny McPeek’s Sun Thunder, who was caught by Angel of Empire in the stretch of the Risen Star (G2) and finished second. Kingsbarns, trained by Todd Pletcher, is at 6-1 on the morning line in his first graded stakes after going 2-for-2.
2023 Louisiana Derby G2
Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Turfway Park, 1 1/8 miles (synthetic), 3-year-olds,100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby points
Four starters from the John Battaglia Memorial here are expected back, including Congruent, who came on strong to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Major Dude switches back to dirt after going 2-for-4 on turf. He broke his maiden on dirt before losing his next two. Two Phil’s was third last out in the Risen Star, which came after he finished second in the Lecomte and won the Street Sense.
2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks G3
Sunday
Sunland Park Derby (G3), Sunland Park, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby points
Fort Bragg is a former Bob Baffert trainee, and he finished fifth in the San Felipe (G2) last out for new trainer Tim Yakteen. Baffert, whose horses are ineligible for Kentucky Derby points, entered Hard to Figure, the morning-line favorite at 2-1. He lost to stablemade Newgate by a neck last out in the Robert B. Lewis (G3).
2023 Sunland Derby G3
Kentucky Oaks preps
Saturday
Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Fair Grounds 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Oaks points
Hoosier Philly looks to avenge her loss in the Risen Star (G2) to Pretty Mischievous, who is 4-for-5. The Alys Look is 2-for-5 and is coming off a win in the Silverbulletday. Southlawn is 2-for-6 and is coming off an eight-length win in an optional-claiming allowance race at this distance and track.
2023 Fair Grounds Oaks G2
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Southlawn
Pioneerof the Nile |
4.09 |
Norm W. Casse
Reylu Gutierrez |
1st, FG AlwOC (2/17/23-R7) | Entered |
| Last Race | 1st, FG AlwOC (2/17/23-R7) | |||||
| 2 |
|
Christian D'oro
Bolt d'Oro |
0.00 |
Steven M. Asmussen
Joel Rosario |
4th, 2023 Island Fashion LS | Entered |
| Last Race | 4th, 2023 Island Fashion LS | |||||
| 3 |
|
Pretty Mischievous
Into Mischief |
4.79 |
Brendan P. Walsh
Brian J. Hernandez, Jr. |
1st, 2023 Rachel Alexandra G2 | Entered |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Rachel Alexandra G2 | |||||
| 4 |
|
The Alys Look
Connect |
4.34 |
Brad H. Cox
Luis Saez |
1st, 2023 Silverbulletday LS | Entered |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Silverbulletday LS | |||||
| 5 |
|
Hoosier Philly
Into Mischief |
7.99 |
Thomas M. Amoss
Edgar Morales |
3rd, 2023 Rachel Alexandra G2 | Entered |
| Last Race | 3rd, 2023 Rachel Alexandra G2 | |||||
Probables were not available for the listed Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park, which offers 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks points.
Sunday
Sunland Park Oaks (listed), Sunland Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks points
Doinitthehardway had five losses before breaking her maiden with a nine-length win last out for Bob Baffert, whose fillies are ineligible to earn Oaks points. The top three finishers from Sunland Park’s Island Fashion Stakes are back here, including Flying Connection, the winner by 9 1/4 lengths.
2023 Sunland Park Oaks LS
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Flying Connection
Nyquist |
3.79 |
Todd W. Fincher
Alfredo J. Juarez Jr. |
1st, 2023 Island Fashion LS | Entered |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Island Fashion LS | |||||
| 2 |
|
Cairo Moon
Cairo Prince |
0.00 |
Nancy Summers
Leandro D. Goncalves |
3rd, 2023 Island Fashion LS | Entered |
| Last Race | 3rd, 2023 Island Fashion LS | |||||
| 3 |
|
Foolish Delight
Carpe Diem |
0.00 |
Greg Green
Miguel A. Perez |
2nd, 2023 Borderplex Stakes LS | Entered |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Borderplex Stakes LS | |||||
| 4 |
|
Doinitthehardway
Street Sense |
4.79 |
Bob Baffert
Flavien Prat |
1st, SA MSW (3/3/23-R1) | Entered |
| Last Race | 1st, SA MSW (3/3/23-R1) | |||||
| 5 |
|
Una Palabra
McCraken |
0.00 |
Vann Belvoir
Harry Hernandez |
|
Entered |
|
|
|
|||||
| 6 |
|
Don't Get Pickled
Misremembered |
6.54 |
Miguel Hernandez
Glenn W. Corbett |
4th, 2022 Arizona Juvenile Fillies LS | Entered |
| Last Race | 4th, 2022 Arizona Juvenile Fillies LS | |||||
| 7 |
|
Love Tank
Kitten's Joy |
4.09 |
Nancy Summers
Ken S. Tohill |
2nd, 2023 Island Fashion LS | Entered |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Island Fashion LS | |||||
Other graded stakes
Saturday
New Orleans Classic (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up
Art Collector returns from his surprising Pegasus World Cup (G1) victory with Junior Alvarado riding again, and he faces another strong field. Pioneer of Medina dueled in the stretch to win the Mineshaft (G3) last out over Mr. Wireless, also entered here. Rattle N Roll would make his 2023 debut here after finishing fourth in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2) in November. Before that, he won the Oklahoma Derby (G3)
2023 New Orleans Classic G2
Muniz Memorial Classic presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up
Atone won the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) last out, his second win in a row. Two Emmys, winner of last year’s Muniz Memorial, won the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) last out by 4 1/4 lengths over Gentle Soul, who also is entered here with two others from that contest. Another Mystery edged Spooky Channel by a neck to finish second in the John B. Connelly Turf Cup (G3) behind Scarlet Fusion.
2023 Muniz Memorial Classic G2
Desert Stormer (G3), Santa Anita, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Becca Taylor would make her first start since winning the Great Lady M (G2) in July. She has a record of 10: 9-1-0 overall and won this race last year. Eda has won four straight stakes for Bob Baffert, most recently the Santa Ysabel (G3) and the Starlet (G1) before that.
